Wes Anderson-coded Czech guesthouse restored from near collapse

Oblouková 171, a historic townhouse in Žatec, Czech Republic, has been meticulously restored by architects Jan and Barbora Hora of Ora after eight years of work. The building, which sheltered the same family for four decades, fell into severe neglect after the Velvet Revolution, with a leaking roof, collapsed ceilings, missing roof truss sections, and dry rot. The owners discovered hidden moonshine in the attic, solidifying their commitment to save the house. Renovation included steel tie rods, a rebuilt vault, a concrete slab replacing a fungus-infested ceiling, and restoration of a three-tiered hop-drying attic typical of Žatec's hop-growing heritage. Salvaged materials were used throughout: hand-hewn beams from a demolished house 400 km away, red marble tiles from a skip, and century-old Šatov tiles for courtyard paving. New elements include custom ash-wood doors and windows matching original profiles. The street façade, stripped in the 1990s, was reinterpreted using historical photographs, resulting in a pastel symmetrical look reminiscent of Wes Anderson films. The completed building now serves as guest apartments, a family holiday retreat, and a taproom serving craft beer from a local brewery. Žatec was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.